Alma's Dreams (are Default) [An Eldritch Thriller]

"How did you know where to look for me?" Zulema asked.

"I didn't. It was more like dumb luck. I'd remembered sensing an aura very similar to Alma's, back when I was tasked to search for a man named Derleth who—"

"WHAT?!" Zula's head jerked faster than sound the moment the witch uttered that eldritch name to her. "Derleth? Did you say Derleth?! How do you know that name?!"

Heloise jumped with a yelp at the sudden outburst. "I don't know! Someone Alma and her friends wanted me to find. Yikes. Why are you yelling at me? Who's this Derleth guy everyone's so excited to suck off?"

"He's the instrument of my undoing." The glacial knight answered solemnly.

"Uhh. Dramatic much? I still have no idea what's going on here."

"You. Stranger." Marie's sharp voice suddenly cut through the flow of their conversation. "I see by your staff that you are a witch. What is your business all the way out here? This is an ecclesiastical matter concerning the Scarlet Church. I am sure you've heard of us, which is why I think it would be in your best interest to leave us immediately."

"I know damn well who you rotten scavengers are. And I already have plenty of reason to hate you. Luckily, rescuing Zula here finally gives me a reason to do something about it."

"Ah, it would figure you two are acquainted." Marie pointed her staff at Heloise. "Unfortunately, obstructing Church business and protecting heretics are actions punishable by death."

Zulema, who had been almost completely devoid of hope, was finally feeling like the tables were turning. Her icy helm hid the smug smile crossing her lips.

"But, do tell me, because I am curious… What exactly did the Church do to earn your ire? And why did you come this far to defend one of its ex-priestesses?"

"Azotha's wounds, where do I start?" Heloise leaned on her staff, wriggling it around with her hand mindlessly.

An amused chuckle came from Carthas, who had been observing the scene silently.

"Firstly, your damn army stole my bestie from me," she continued. "Although, like, I guess that was more the princess's fault… No! You and that tacky goddess drove the princess to seduce my friend with your fancy military guns and 'tacticool' gear! And then you chew her up and spit her out like she didn't work her ass off for you bastards. Plus, you brainwashed her sister Zula here into joining your nasty cult. Even though it did give her a steady income and a stable career… She totally found her calling, you know? Wish I could say the same… Wait! No! You abandoned her! All because she was kidnapped… against her will?"

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Zulema nodded to Heloise who had turned to her for confirmation.

"And then you had the audacity to tell my bestie that her sister was dead! She was just like, so crushed and bawling like a baby."

"Such petty reasons for you to forfeit your life like this." Marie scoffed. "But at least I understand your connection here now. Lucia, pulverize their bones."

Lucia, who had been completely immune to the freezing winds assailing her nude form, finally moved as if snapping out of a catatonic trance. The rotting girl vanished from sight, only to reappear directly above them.

"Shut up!" Heloise yelled, her grip on her staff painfully tight against the gnarled wood. Before she could unleash the sharp retort forming on her tongue, the sudden emergence of a shadow above her sent a chilling jolt to her brain, yelling at her muscles to dodge the terrifying swift descent of the reanimated monster.

The whole thing happened in the blink of an eye.

As Heloise screamed in an attempt to verbalize a protective spell, Zulema instantly bounded in front of the wide-eyed witch, her arms already high in the air, holding the scythe sideways above her head.

Lucia's flail crashed down with a thundering crack as the spiked rod made impact with the frozen handle of Zulema's scythe, pushing the knightess's icy greaves deep into the cratering snow.

"Holy shit. Were you always that fast?!"

"Nngh! Stand back, blondie!" Zulema's arms trembled painfully as she pushed back against Lucy's weapon.

Lucia, who had only seemed to be able to express anger up to that point, began cackling madly. She reeled back her flail before once again slamming it down onto Zulema's scythe. She repeated this motion, over and over, getting faster with each strike and forcing the knightess to continue blocking, preventing her from getting a foothold in the fight.

Or so she thought.

With a swift flick of her chin, Zulema conjured a pillar of snow, growing directly beneath Lucia's feet. It erupted with such incredible force that it launched the priestess back skyward, sending her hurtling back toward Marie's side.

"Fuck you, my reasons weren't petty!" Heloise shouted at Marie with renewed vigor. "That's not even the tip of the iceberg! You also…! You... You took my papa away from me! Aaaah! I can't believe you got me to admit that!"

"Oh, dearie me. What a noble daughter you are. And now you're dead set on vengeance against us, is that correct? Not terribly impressed with the cliché, but I suppose it's a valid justification, if any. I'm afraid we do kill dozens of people a day, however, and while I'm sure there's bound to be a father or two in the mix, you will have to forgive me if his name is not at the forefront of my prayers."

"Eeeeeeeeeeyuck!!"

To Marie's surprise, the witch squealed irritatedly.

"Gross! Quelle horreur ! As if I would ever avenge that salaud ! That asshole isn't dead! He works for you guys!"

"What?" Marie frowned, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Who are you?"

"Did I never tell you about my sister's best friend, Marie?" Zulema asked mockingly, stepping forward. "Antoine's daughter?"

"D'Aulnoy's—?!" Marie scowled, her body tensing up like a creature reassessing its threat. She was no longer amused.

Heloise posed cutely in her typical arrogant fashion.

Lucia's body was bristling with rage as she rose back up, poised to jump back into the fray.

"Lucia," called Marie, causing the penitente to freeze in her tracks. "That's enough. We are retreating. There is much to process."

The masked priestess turned back toward the forest and disappeared into the darkness of dead trees and billowing winds. Lucia glared at them before turning to join her.

"Wait! Lucy! Don't go!" Zulema ran off toward them, but was stopped in her tracks by the falling of various trees in her path, trunks shattered by the swinging of a heavy flail.